Steve Nearman A sinner saved by grace. Fredericksburg, VA

The enemy of God and man has been using the same tricks to deceive mankind for as long as we have been here on earth. He started in Gen. 3:1-6 Then the serpent said to the woman, You will not surely die… So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

John breaks it down this way in 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

Many times it is not Satan but our own carnal nature we give into. James 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 

Some of what I have learned during great trials is how very cruel our common enemy really is. His attacks most often come when we are at a weak point in our lives. I have learned it takes physical stamina and endurance to resist spiritual attacks. When we are tired, exhausted or fatigued, either physically, mentally or emotionally, we become more vulnerable to his deceptions and susceptible to his lies and persuasive false logic. He plays heavily on our emotions when in a heightened state. He uses scripture, out of context, to twist Gods truth into what seams biblically sound but is false. The devices or wiles of Satan are lies that sound logical. He use of scripture, out of context, is an effort to deceive believers, as he did when he tried to deceive Jesus Christ. Matt. 4:1-7, Luk 4:9-12 

Once we unwittingly accept one of his lies as fact or truth, he uses that foundation to continue to build a stronger case based on the false but very persuasive logic of that concept. Many of our false concepts are developed through our reliance on our first hand experiences that are emotionally driven. It becomes very easy to convince a person or with subtlety use their emotions to direct their thoughts when emotions are high. "I know what I saw!"  "I know what I heard!" "I was there I saw it with my own eyes!" But in reality it's what I understood through the filter of what I strongly felt at the time.

Our God given defense is the whole armor of God Eph. 6:10-18

The great dragon, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, is a formidable enemy. Rev.12:9 The battle is in our minds for our thoughts. Eph. 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

Think about your thinking and what is motivating you to take any action. 2 Cor 10:5 Cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

May 06 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Doreen Lovell Evangelist and Prayer Intercessor

Matt. 7: 15-20; Romans 16:18

The devil sets trap to catch us and he disguises his trap with elements of truth. Genesis 3:1 "Now the serpent was more crafty than any wild animal which Adonai God had made". He tempted Eve by twisting the order that God gave Adam that he should not eat from the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, nor touch it, or he would die (deception). Thus Eve fall was simply the way Satan found into Adam's life. Her fall was the channel by which the tempter approached man. 

Saul fell from grace and God used Samuel to anoint David as future king. Satan used this, showed Saul Gods anointing on David and raised up envy in his heart to the extent that Saul sought David to kill him. David on the other hand being covered and focused on Adonai prevented his men from killing Saul when he cut the tzi-tzit from Saul's tallit which means death.
Satan knowing the plan God had for Joseph set the trap to kill him. He caused Joseph's brothers to hate and envy him for his coat of many colors given to him by his father and his hearing from God through dreams. One brother's intervention prevented the others from killing him but resulted in him being sold as a slave and taken to Egypt. 

Today Satan uses numerous cults and religions to catch us in his trap. These organizations set their traps of error and many quote the bible and preach a certain amount of gospel truth. They talk about prayer, Yeshua and the bible but under the layer of truth is the trap of error.

As in the days of old false messengers are prevalent whereas true messengers are in the minority. False prophets appear in "sheep's clothing" and this is a true description of those messengers who have denied or distort the truth of the gospel. They look like lambs but act like wolves, similar to the false prophet of Rev. 13:11.

The true testing of a messenger is the conformity of his doctrine to the scriptures. Consistent production of fruit, (good or evil) in a person's life will bear evidence whether or not that life is of God. Matt. 7:19 shows that a life that bringeth not good fruit is doomed for eternal punishment in hell.

This is the age of deception. The bible warns that:

(1) We should test the spirit (1 John 4:1).

(2) We should beware of deceivers (2 Timothy 3: 2, 7, 13).

The only antidote against the clever deception that comes in the name of Yeshua (Mark 13: 5-6) is to know your bible, be rooted and grounded in the truth (Col. 2:6-8) "Test all things hold fast to what is good (1Thes. 5:21). Beware of Satan's traps, he often disguises error with a veneer of truth’

ACTIONS THAT GOD DETESTS

Proverbs 6:16-19 "These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 
A proud look, 
A lying tongue, 
Hands that shed innocent blood, 
A heart that devices wicked plans, 
Feet that are swift in running to evil, 
A false witness who speaks lies, 
And one who sows discord among brethren" (NKJV). The Inspirational Study Bible)

These things the Lord detests fall into THREE categories:

1.	Heart. From the heart comes the attitude of Pride that is the root of our own self destruction.
2.	Mind. From the mind come the plans to harm others: - hands that shed blood; wickedness and eagerness for evil.
3.	Tongue: - From the tongue comes the destructive words that can ruin lives: - lies, false witness and discord.

So then the devil uses these methods:- manipulate us to be involved in these actions:- Gossip; Envy; False witness; Hypocrisy; Pride; Covetousness; Revenge; Cheating; Lies.

May 06 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Zahari Schtonov

I have a great book to recommend on this question. Not too long to read and provides such a great insight and also ways to prepare and counteract the attacks of the Devil. Knowing your enemy is winning half the battle. Of course as Christians we should know that the battle has been already own for us on the cross of Calvary, the day our Savior Jesus the Christ has died. He said those faithful words: "It is finished!", the debt is payed off. We are conquerors of the evil, because Jesus has already overcome the world! Amen! Be blessed all!

Here is the reference:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Strategy-Satan-Detect-Defeat/dp/0842366652/ref=tmm_mmp_title_0

May 06 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report